Best Oil and Filter

Peter,

Now that's something I'd like to see: a "1069 OTS". I assume when you talk about horsepower, it's real horses. No oil filter, just a big bucket of axle grease? ;-)

Steve Weinstein
'70 XKE FHC, '69 XKE OTS

Jaguar XKE, roadster, 1960
Thanks to everyone for all the thoughts and opinions on which filter and oil to use in my 1069 OTS. This question really brought about many opinions. I have used Mobile 1 filters and synthetic oil in my Honda Accord and 300E Mercedes for several years now based on the opionion that their filters and oil are of the highest quality. I'm not sure if one of their filters is made to fit inside the after market type filter canister that came with my OTS (looks like a stainless steel canister that is bolted onto the engine block). I guess the best think a guy can do is talk to guys like bill Terry of Terry's Jaguar. They rebuild Jaguar engines 5 days a week and should have the most knowledgeable information about which oils and filters to use. I will call several Jaguar engine rebuilders and get their feedback and post their opinions on the JCNA forum when I get back from vacation in 2 weeks. BTW, don't forget to leave cookies and milk out for Santa at Christmas.

hi, i thinkdougs comments are right on.ive been a mechanic for over 30 years and my dad was a life long mechanic all of whichmay mean nothing.however,having repaired thousands ofcars i see them on a regular basis with 200,000 miles or more with nothing more than mineral oil having been used in themm and they run perfect and are very clean inside. i feel if you use aname brand oil and filter and change it every 3,000 miles you just dont have oil related problems. i think synthetic oils are fine but most people never see there benefits.having said that,i change my collecter cars oil and filter when i put them away for the winter even if they only have a few hundred miles on the oil.if you read dougs comments carfuly they make a lot of sense. the oil debate will never end.mark. 1962 fhc 1970 fhc

Yes, some of my statements were abit "stringent" and somewhat of a leap, but Doug doesn't offer anything else except his "feelings" as well.
Perhaps those interested will do their own research rather than rely opinions from a forum such as this. To each their own.

P

Edited on 2005-07-17 15:18:28

Edited on 2005-07-17 15:06:38

The whole synthetic oil versus conventional oil debate is so ripe with opinion, innuendo, tall tales, argument, "scientific studies" (figures don't lie, but liars sure do figure) etc etc that fact versus fiction is a very cloudy area. In the end, not all that much different, IMHO, than "I'll never use X-Y-Z motor oil, ever. Grandad used some in his Packard back in '49 and said it never was the same again"

And, personally, I don't hold TV commercials in particularly high regard. :-) I'd rather trust Grandad's opinion :-)

I am not trying to pan synthetics, so don't get me wrong. I've heard lots of great stories. But to infer (or even state outright) that using them will necessarily *lengthen* engine life and the use of conventional oils will neccesarily *shorten* egnine life is a bit of a stretch. There are just too many variables engine-to-engine, owner-to-owner. Do the die-hard synthetic fans out there have a crystal ball they are consulting or what ?

I have 141K miles on my 4.2XK (in my Xj6) using dino oil. It runs like a watch. If it had been treated to synthetic for day one, I can't imagine it running any better. It doesn't burn oil, and has good compression. How long would I have to wait to see the benefit of synthetics? 160K miles? 180K ? 200K? At what point does the argument become academic? If it fails tomorrow can anyone out there actually tell me, with even a shred of certainty, that it would have lasted longer if I had used synthetics ???? I didn't think so.

It is perfectly normal to attribute success to a particular thing if that "thing" is something special you've been doing for a long time. If I eat an apple every day and never see the doctor then I am likely to beleive that "An apple a day keeps the doctor away". Fair enough. But, i gotta tell ya, it probably wasn't the apple :-). If you use synthetic oil exclusively in your Jaguar and it is still running like a watch at 150K miles then you're likely to think it was the oil----after all, you went through all that extra exepense year after year. It *must've* been the oil, right ? Right ?

I had used Fram filters for years and years in all my cars ---including the Jag---and never gave it a second thought. After all the hoopla about how sub-standard they are supposed to be I stopped using them on the Jags. Like many of us I don't want to take risks and I like to pamper my Jags with top-grade parts.....but I admit it is often just a "feel good" thing and nothing more.

Truth is, I have a sneaky suspicion that I could have continued using Fram filters all these years and never noticed any difference versus the OEM, Jaguar-labeled filters I now use exclusively. I DO like the Jag filters :-). But, I'm surely not gonna tell someone that using Jag filters is a "must do" or that "you'll need and engine overhaul sooner if you don't use Jaguar oil filters".

As far as repair shops and mechanics, well, they are subject to the same influences we all are: advertsing, past personal experiences, good and bad advice, opinions represented as facts, grandad's Packard story, etc etc. To say that a mechanic's recommendation that conventional oil be used is solely an attempt to induce premature engine failure so as to conjure up more engine overhaul business is a bit of a leap, IMHO.

Cheers to all

Doug Dwyer
Longview Washington USA
1987 XJ6 Ser III
1988 XJS V12 Coupe

Edited on 2005-07-17 10:30:13

"Loose engine tolerances of the period?" What a crock of manure. Maybe they are talking about steam engines or something. Man, I'd run quickly away from those "mechanics" as they clearly don't have a clue. Go ahead; run regular motor oil like they say....you'll be back sooner than necessary for an engine rebuild which is what they want.

Would you happen to remember the commercials showing a frying pan of conventional motor oil next to a pan of synthetic? While the conventional oil turned black and solid, the synthetic did not. Its all about reducing friction under very high temperatures. Just remember that the next time the engine overheats abit (which never happens, right?!)

IMHO

P Mac

I personally use Mobil 0W-40 in my E-Type. The reason is that the synthetic builds pressure faster, and most engine damage occurs in the first seconds after start up. Otherwise, I'd use 20W-50.

As for a filter, if you have a cartridge filter, the choice is between paper and felt. I prefer paper, I think most of the Jag places carry Crosslands brand. If you have a spin on filter conversion, then select the largest compatible filter that works. For example, some suppliers recommend Toyota filters (PH16 Fram, or equiv.). You can substitue a Chrysler filter (PH8A Fram, or equiv), and get a filter with nearly twice the capacity. If you're thinking of going for a conversion, find one that uses Jaguar filters (PH2995 Fram, or equiv). Not only are these larger filters, they have larger inlet and outlet area.

There are a few motor oil myths I don't subscribe to:

1) Synthetics can't be run longer than regular oils, especially in older motors. Part of the reason you change oil is to remove dirt and contaminants. These build at the same rate with synthetics as with regular oil. If you're going to do extended intervals, you MUST do periodic oil analysis, which will be more expensive than regular oil changes.

2) I discount 100% of the information contained in "oil filter studies" found on the web. For example, Fram is universally panned because it has paper end caps. End caps seal to the extent the glue holding the cap to the filter material stands up to the task. Do we think it's harder to glue paper to cardbard, than it is to glue paper to steel or plastic? Of course it isn't. What testing is done on flow rates and longevity? These studies rarely represent sound engineering analysis.

3)Avoid all additives.

This is more of seeking opinions on this issue than giving you an answer -I am about to take delivery of a '69 OTS that I purchased over a year ago and have had various repair work and restoration being done to it. Just last week I asked the two mechanics who have worked on the car and have extensive Jaguar experience about oil types. Thier response was to stay away from synthetics and go with standard Valvoline 20-50W. Reasoning had something to do with the loose engine tolerences of the period, and in particular the XKE engine, required something with more substance to it than the synthetics.

I highly recommend Mobil One synthetic; see what weights are used up in your neck of the woods. Any synthetic is better than regular motor oil. You should also get the Mobil One filter as its better built, but it is also more costly. You can do some research on the various oil filter internet sites; lots of marketing claims.
Here is an "oil filter study"
http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/oil_filter_study/

K&N also makes oil filters, but I'm not sure how good they are.

Patrick McLoad